New LC Permalink Service

The Library of Congress is pleased to announce "LCCN Permalink" -- a new persistent URL service for creating links to bibliographic records in the Library of Congress Online Catalog using the Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN).

LCCN Permalink is a convenient way to cite items from the Library's collection in your bibliographies, reference guides, emails, blogs, databases, web pages, etc. Not only can you easily construct a permalink yourself, but we also display them as part of the bibliographic record in the LC Online Catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov/).

How to create an LCCN Permalink

Simply begin your URL with the LCCN Permalink domain name -- http://lccn.loc.gov/ -- then add an LCCN.

Examples:
http://lccn.loc.gov/2003556443
http://lccn.loc.gov/82643250
http://lccn.loc.gov/mm78044693

LCCNs should be formatted according to the info:lccn URI specification (http://info-uri.info/registry/OAIHandler?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=reg&identifier=info:lccn/). Instructions are also available in the LCCN Permalink FAQ: http://lccn.loc.gov/lccnperm-faq.html#n10

How LCCN Permalink works

An LCCN Permalink retrieves a MARCXML-formatted bibliographic record using the Z39.50/SRU protocol. Both valid and cancelled LCCNs (MARC 21 fields 010a and 010z) are searched. LCCN Permalink displays are based on the Full Record display in the LC Online Catalog. Not only can you link directly into the LC Online Catalog, but you can also view the record in MARCXML, MODS, and Dublin Core formats.

More Information

The LC Permalink FAQ at http://lccn.loc.gov/lccnperm-faq.html provides additional information on this new service. Specific questions can also be sent to the Library's Ask-A-Librarian service at http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-digital.html

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